In a method for the presentation of images of a region that are generated in a chronological sequence the values allocated to the picture element per image are compared to one another for acquiring changes for at least one picture element that represents an identical location per image with respect to the region to be imaged, the acquired changes are set down in a change log for the picture element, a marking is allocated to the picture element dependent on the change log, and the marking is superimposed on the location of the picture element in a selected image of the region.
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1. A method for presenting images of a region of a subject obtained in a chronological sequence, each image being composed of a plurality of picture elements and each picture element having a value allocated thereto representing an appearance of that picture element in the image, comprising the steps of:
comparing respective values allocated to respective picture elements at identical locations in two of said images to identify a change of said value between said two of said images;
entering said change in a change log for said picture element relative to a time scale, and determining a point in time in said time scale at which said change is entered dependent on said two of said images allocating markings having different densities respectively to changes entered at different points in time in said change log;
allocating a marking to said picture element dependent on the entry in said change log; and
superimposing said marking at the location of said picture element in a selected image of said region.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method for the presentation of images of an imaged region that are generated in a chronological succession.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a functional magnetic resonance imaging, for example, images of a brain are registered in a chronological sequence. The objective of functional magnetic resonance imaging is to acquire a functional image for the identification of active brain areas. To that end, images with and without a specific neural activity of the brain are registered in succession at different points in time. For forming the functional image, the images generated with the neural activity are compared to those without neural activity to determine differences in order to identify active brain areas. To insure that the functional image contains reliable information, many images with and without neural activity must be registered because images are obtained on the basis of the comparatively weak BOLD (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) effect using magnetic resonance technology and must be processed, such as by averaging, during the comparison procedure. Since even slight positional changes of the brain during an overall exposure time span of the functional magnetic resonance imaging lead to unwanted signal differences that mask the sought brain activity, the images are usually brought into the best possible coincidence before the comparison using suitable methods. Further details regarding functional magnetic resonance imaging are set forth, for example, in the article by U. Klose et al., “Funktionelle Bildgebung mit der Magnet-resonanztomographie”, electromedica 67 (1999), No. 1, pages 27 through 36.
For the different purpose of monitoring a therapy for destroying a tumor, for example, medical diagnostic images of a region of a patient containing the tumor are generated between time segments of the therapy. The change in the size of the tumor can be derived from common observation of the images that are produced. How precisely and how quickly the change in size can be read from the images is highly dependent on the respective expertise and experience of a viewer, for example an attending physician.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for presenting images of a region to be imaged that are generated in a chronological sequence, with which, among other things, a simple recognition of time differences between the images is enabled.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in a method for the presentation of images of a region that are generated in a chronological sequence wherein respective values allocated to picture elements per image are compared to one another for acquiring changes in at least one picture element that represents an identical location per image with respect to the region to be imaged, the acquired changes are entered in a change log for the picture element, a marking is allocated to the picture element dependent on the change log, and the marking is superimposed on the location of the picture element in a selected image of the region to be imaged.
All changes that occur during the sequence thus can be presented in a single image and thus can be simply and reliably recognized. A physician supervising a tumor therapy, for example, can immediately see in what way a tumor has developed over time during the course of the therapy and how the therapy is to be subsequently continued in an appropriate way.
In an embodiment, a minimum difference between two values to be compared is presumed for one of the changes. This prevents imprecisions when generating the images from leading to an incorrect designation as change.
In another embodiment, the images are brought into coincidence before the comparison. This assures that the compared picture elements per image represent an identical location with respect to the region to be imaged. To that end, the methods cited earlier for functional magnetic resonance imaging can be applied.
In the first image 1, the tumor extends over the picture elements V22 through V24, V32 through V34 and V42 through V44. Following the registration time of the first image 1, for example, a first segment of a radiation therapy for combating the tumor is implemented. The second image 2 is registered after the first segment of the radiation therapy. Compared to the first image 1, one can see in the second image 2 that the picture elements V42 and V43 change from black to white, i.e. the tumor has been successfully radiation-treated in these regions. In contrast thereto, the picture element V25 changes from white to black, i.e. the tumor has expanded in this region.
Following the registration time of the second image 2, a further segment of the radiation therapy is implemented. The third image 3 is registered following thereupon. Given a comparison of the third image 3 to the images 1 and 2, the following changes can be found. The picture element V42 changing from black to white from image 1 to image 2 again changes from white to black from image 2 to image 3. The picture elements V22, V32 through V34 and V45 for the first time change from black to white from image 2 to image 3. The picture element V25 that changes from white to black from image 1 to image 2 changes back from black to white from image 2 to image 3. Further, the picture elements V14 and V15 of image 2 change from white to black for the first time in image 3.
Images 1 through 3 are initially combined with one another so that the preceding changes can be visualized in a single image. To that end, a first difference image 12 shown in
In other embodiments, picture elements that change multiply between images comparable to the picture elements V43 are identified in the gradient image with a different hatching, for example a cross-hatching. In another embodiment, colors are employed as markings. The colors can thereby be freely selected by the user.
In another step, the gradient images 21 and 22 are superimposed on a selected image.
In another embodiment, a gradient image is superimposed on an anatomical image of the region to be imaged. The anatomical image can exhibit a higher resolution than the images employed to generate the gradient image. To that end,
Not only active and inactive brain regions, but also chronological changes of brain activities can be presented in functional magnetic resonance imaging in accordance with the invention.
Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is in the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of his contribution to the art.
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